26 August, 2020

Climate and the Earth’s Biomes

Climate vs Weather


Current vs Collective state of the atmosphere

Elements of climate and weather


  • Precipitation
    • process that ends with the fall of water to the earth’s surface.


  • Temperature
    • amount of heat energy in the air


  • Atmospheric pressure
    • force exerted on a surface by the weight of the atmosphere.
    • varies vertically; decrease as you ascend
  • Wind
    • dries humidity, causes storms, and drives evaporation


  • Solar radiation
    • provides heat


  • Cloudiness
    • form when humid air cools to dew point & water/ice attaches to dust, ash, etc.
    • type and # are important

Climate controls life, but what controls climate?

Slope of Earth’s surface causes uneven heating

Earth’s axial tilt (23.5°) creates seasons

Changes in Earth’s tilt and Ice Ages

Atmosphere circulation impacts climate via “Air Donuts”

Earth’s atmosphere contains six rotating “Air Donuts”

Earth surface processes impact climate

Mountains and the rain shadow effect

Surface features impacts weather: Atlantic hurricanes

Vegetation alters on climate

Why is London warmer than Boston?

Ocean currents heavily impact global climates

Global climate: El Nino (https://www.climate.gov/enso)

Biomes: Usually defined by communities of plants and animals


Climate controls life: Terrestrial biomes

Climate and ecology questions are scale dependent

Ocean Biomes: Depth, light and nutrients

Ocean Biomes: Coastal productivity

How does climate impact ecology?